Build a startup, one Saturday at a time.

High-school students form a team, work alongside local business leaders, and turn one idea into a solid business plan across a single school year.

Saturdays 10:30 AM–12:30 PM ·
September 2026 to June 2027

VLC Young Entrepreneurs is an independent program where students develop a startup business plan from the ground up over one school year.

Teams of four or five are each paired with a local business leader who mentors them from first idea to a solid business plan. Across the year they work through the six steps every startup takes, and on the final Saturday, they pitch the result to a panel of judges.

A mentor reviews ideas with a student team around a table of laptops and sticky notes.

2026–2027 Cohort

  • A mentor leads the class beside a whiteboard listing the plan: brainstorm, research, prototype, test and present.
  • Students work on their laptops at a round table, with the Vecinos+ ideas whiteboard behind them.
  • Students work on laptops and notes while a dog rests beside their table.
  • A mentor talks with student teams seated around the tables during the October class.
  • Two students add sticky notes to a “Pain Points” and “Interests” whiteboard while teammates work on laptops.
  • Four students discuss their startup idea over laptops at a round table.
  • A mentor gives a talk to the students, with her slides projected on the wall.
  • A student team leans over the table to plan their project on a tablet.
  • Students following a projected presentation during the first Saturday session.
  • Students standing around a table, collaborating on their project during the workshop.

The Vision

Entrepreneurship is learned by building. We give high-school students the mentorship and the real-world challenges to turn an idea into a solid business plan to grow into confident future leaders.

The Leadership

VLC Young Entrepreneurs is led by a diverse group of parents, executives, and founders who share one goal: fostering an entrepreneurial spirit in young future leaders.

Community

We’re building a community that connects young, aspiring entrepreneurs with the experienced founders who have built companies of their own.

The program

One school year, one solid business plan: here is how the year is shaped.

Team size
4–5
Each session
2 hrs
Season
Sep–Jun
Program fee
€70/mo
Format
Teams of four or five high-school students build one business plan across the school year.
When
Every Saturday, 10:30 AM–12:30 PM, from September 19, 2026 to June 5, 2027 (final pitches).
Where
Valencia area, Spain.
Mentorship
Each team is paired with a local executive or founder who coaches them through the six steps.
Guest speakers
Founders join select Saturdays to share their journey in 30-minute talks.

How a Saturday works

10:30 AM–12:30 PM

Every session keeps the same two-hour shape, whether you join as a student building a business plan or a mentor guiding a team. The time splits into four compressed blocks:

  1. A founder’s real story

    A guest founder opens with the honest version of their journey: the setbacks and wrong turns, not just the wins.

  2. The week’s lesson

    A focused teaching session on that Saturday’s topic: one idea taught well, from spotting a problem to
    pricing a product.

  3. A hands-on task

    Students put the lesson to work right away with a short, practical exercise tied to their own startup idea.

  4. Team work time

    Teams regroup to push their own business plan forward, applying what they just learned with mentors close by.

Between the Saturdays

Regular mentor check-ins

Beyond the sessions, every team meets its dedicated mentor on a regular cadence, roughly every two weeks, for guidance as the business plan takes shape.

Within every team

A role for every student

Each student holds a defined role, so everyone owns a real part of the project:

  • Project lead
  • Marketing
  • Finance
  • Product
  • Presentation & comms

Who should apply

Any high-school student curious about entrepreneurship, business, or building something real. Open to students from any school across the Valencia area. Beyond business, students build skills they’ll keep long after the final pitch: teamwork and communication, using AI responsibly, building a personal brand online, and social responsibility, always with a focus on solving real problems.

Program fee

€70 / per month

For the full school-year program,
September to June.

The six steps

Every team walks the same arc:
from a shared interest in September to a
final pitch in June.

  1. Form a team

    Find three or four classmates who care about the same kinds of problems you do. Your team is who you’ll build alongside all year.

  2. Create a solution

    Choose one real problem worth solving and shape the product or service your team thinks could fix it.

  3. Talk to potential customers

    Get out and interview the people you’re building for, then let what they tell you sharpen the business plan.

  4. Create a prototype

    Build a rough first version you can put in real hands, and pay close attention to where it breaks.

  5. Develop your business model

    Work out how the idea actually makes money, then turn the whole story into a pitch deck.

  6. Present your work

    Stand up on the final Saturday and pitch everything you’ve built to a panel of judges.

The Saturday schedule

35 sessions, every Saturday 10:30 AM–12:30 PM with lunch provided after each session, from September 19, 2026 to June 5, 2027. Breaks fall on December 26, January 2, and April 3.

Phase 1

Foundations & Team Formation

Step 1
Sep192026

Launch Day: Welcome to VLC Young Entrepreneurs

Students meet the cohort, mentors, and program team, and learn how the year ahead is structured. We set expectations, introduce the six steps of building a startup, and kick off the entrepreneurial mindset. Teams begin to form around shared interests and passions.

Sep262026

What is Entrepreneurship? Finding Your Team

Students get a clear picture of what entrepreneurship really is and why a strong founding team matters more than any single idea. Through structured activities, participants find collaborators whose skills complement their own. By the end of the session, teams of four to five begin to take shape.

Oct32026

What’s a good business opportunity?

Students learn to tell a real business opportunity from a passing idea. We look at how successful founders spotted gaps worth pursuing and sized up their potential. Teams start a running list of opportunities they care about.

Oct102026

The Entrepreneurial Mindset / Mindfulness & Stress Management

We explore how founders think differently about risk, failure, and opportunity, and why resilience matters more than any single idea. Students also learn practical mindfulness and stress-management tools to stay steady through the year ahead. Teams reflect on the mindset shifts they will need to thrive.

Phase 2

Creating a Solution

Step 2
Oct172026

What Makes a Great Problem? From Problem to Solution

Teams learn what separates a great problem from a merely interesting one, then choose the one they will spend the year solving. We introduce frameworks for
moving from a clear problem to a focused solution. Each team commits to a direction and a working hypothesis.

Oct242026

Ideation & Creative Thinking

Students learn structured brainstorming techniques used by real product teams.
We push past obvious answers toward more original solutions. Teams sketch several possible versions of their idea.

Oct312026

Defining Your Value Proposition

Teams articulate exactly what value their solution delivers and to whom. We introduce the value proposition canvas as a working tool. Each team drafts a one-sentence statement of what they do and why it matters.

Nov72026

Market & Competitor Basics

Students learn to size a market and map who else is solving the same problem. We discuss how competition validates rather than kills an idea. Teams research their landscape and find their angle.

Nov142026

Solution Workshop & Mentor Check-In

Teams work hands-on with their assigned mentors to pressure-test their solution. Mentors share where similar ideas succeed or struggle in the real world. Each team leaves with a sharpened concept.

Phase 3

Talking to Customers

Step 3
Nov212026

Why Customers Come First

Students learn why talking to potential customers beats guessing in a room. We cover the most common founder mistake: building before listening. Teams identify who their first customers actually are.

Nov282026

The Art of the Customer Interview

We teach how to ask questions that reveal real needs instead of polite encouragement. Students practice interview techniques on each other and on mentors. Teams prepare an interview script to use in the field.

Dec52026

Listening & Synthesizing Feedback

Teams return with what they heard and learn to find patterns in the noise. We separate signal from flattery and surprise from confirmation. Each team refines its business plan based on real input.

Dec122026

Refining the Business Plan

Students translate customer insight into concrete changes to their concept. We revisit the value proposition and adjust based on evidence. Teams document what they learned and what they changed.

Dec192026

Mid-Year Progress Showcase

Teams present their progress so far to peers and mentors in a low-stakes setting. We celebrate momentum and surface challenges before the winter break. Constructive feedback sets up a strong second half.

Dec26

No session · Christmas break

Jan2

No session · New Year break

Jan92027

New Year Working Session

A flexible studio day for teams to catch up after the break, regroup, and set goals for the second half. Mentors are available for one-on-one guidance. Teams leave with a clear plan for the new year.

Phase 4

Prototyping & Testing

Step 4
Jan162027

Build to Learn

We turn to making ideas tangible. Students learn why a rough prototype teaches more than a perfect plan. Teams scope the simplest version of their product they can build.

Jan232027

Prototyping Fundamentals

Students learn low-cost ways to prototype digital and physical products. We cover mockups, paper prototypes, and no-code tools. Teams begin building their first testable version.

Jan302027

Building Your First Prototype

A hands-on studio session dedicated to making. Mentors help teams overcome technical and design hurdles. Each team aims for something a customer can actually try.

Feb62027

Testing with Real Users

Teams put their prototype in front of potential customers and watch what happens. We teach how to run a usability test and capture honest reactions. Students learn to separate what users say from what they do.

Feb132027

Iterating on Feedback

Teams analyze test results and decide what to change. We introduce the build-measure-learn loop as a working rhythm. Each team plans its next iteration.

Feb202027

Prototype Refinement Studio

Another dedicated build day to act on test feedback. Mentors guide teams through tough product decisions. Teams move toward a version they are proud to demo.

Phase 5

Business Model & Pitch Deck

Step 5
Feb272027

How Startups Make Money

Students learn the main ways startups generate revenue. We map business model options against each team’s product and customers. Teams draft a first version of how they will make money.

Mar62027

The Business Model Canvas

We introduce the business model canvas as a one-page strategy tool. Students fill in each block for their own startup. Teams identify the riskiest assumptions in their model.

Mar132027

Pricing, Costs & Unit Economics

Students learn the basics of pricing, costs, and whether a business can sustain itself. We work through simple unit-economics examples together. Teams build a rough financial picture of their startup.

Mar202027

Anatomy of a Great Pitch Deck

We break down what every strong pitch deck includes and why. Students study real decks from successful startups. Teams outline their own deck slide by slide.

Mar272027

Building Your Pitch Deck

A working session to turn the outline into real slides. Mentors review structure, story, and clarity. Each team produces a first full draft of its deck.

Apr3

No session · Semana Santa / Easter break

Apr102027

Storytelling & Persuasion

Students learn how to tell a story that makes judges and customers care. We cover narrative structure, hooks, and handling tough questions. Teams sharpen the story behind their numbers.

Phase 6

Rehearsal & Presenting to Judges

Step 6
Apr172027

The Road to Pitch Day

With the finish line in sight, teams assess where their deck and prototype stand. We set a clear plan to be pitch-ready by early June.

Apr242027

Public Speaking & Stage Presence

Students learn techniques to present with confidence and clarity. We practice voice, pace, body language, and managing nerves. Each student delivers a short segment for feedback.

May12027

Pitch Practice Round 1

Teams deliver their full pitch to mentors and receive structured feedback. We focus on timing, flow, and answering questions. Teams leave with a prioritized list of fixes.

May82027

Handling Q&A & Tough Questions

Students learn to field hard questions from judges with composure. We run rapid-fire Q&A drills with mentors playing skeptical investors. Teams anticipate the questions they fear most.

May152027

Pitch Practice Round 2

A second full dress rehearsal with sharper feedback. Teams refine slides, transitions, and delivery. We measure progress against pitch-day criteria.

May222027

Final Polish Studio

Teams make final adjustments to deck, demo, and script. Mentors give last-round guidance. Everything comes together for the final stretch.

May292027

Mock Presentations

Teams deliver full mock presentations under realistic, pitch-day conditions. Each team presents start to finish with timing enforced and a mock panel watching. We surface and resolve any last issues before the real thing.

Jun52027

Final Pitches & Demo Day

The culmination of the year: teams pitch their business plans to a panel of judges. Families, mentors, sponsors, and the community gather to watch. Winners are recognized and the cohort celebrates everything they built.

Meet the team

Anne M. Palaia, MPH, PhD, Program Director
Anne M. Palaia, MPH, PhD Program Director

Anne is a health innovation consultant focused on helping organizations turn complex data into practical strategy. She brings over two decades of experience in global health, research, and program evaluation, including more than eleven years at USAID, where she led monitoring and evaluation for major international initiatives, from an $8.4 billion COVID-19 response to health programs spanning more than 40 countries. Earlier in her career she directed clinical research and taught applied program evaluation at Johns Hopkins University.

Catherine Baranska, co-founder
Catherine Baranska Co-founder

Catherine is the co-founder of Vecinos+, a community platform created to connect residents across communities, support neighborhood initiatives, and provide easier access to trusted local services, activities, and information. She is also an experienced entrepreneur and business leader who built an IT company in Warsaw valued at PLN 43 million and led a team of more than 90 people, overseeing strategy, operations, growth, and organizational development. Her experience spans technology, nonprofit management, education, and community building.

Bernardo Trevilla Langer, co-founder
Bernardo Trevilla Langer Co-founder

Bernardo has spent over three years at TiE Boston, one of the city’s leading startup organizations, where he helped run a startup competition for high school students and managed marketing for its startup accelerator, TiE ScaleUp, and its annual startup conference. Before that, he spent six years with the trade agencies at British and Canadian consulates in the United States, and with a Spanish startup, supporting the expansion of companies across the US, UK, Spain, Canada, Türkiye, and Thailand. Recently certified in AI Governance, he helps small businesses strengthen their digital presence and is launching aigovernanceinternational.org.

Guest speakers

On select Saturdays, founders join us for 30-minute talks: the honest version of how they built their company, to inspire the students mid-build. If you have a story worth telling, get in touch.

Antonio Álvarez
Antonio Álvarez Guest speaker

Antonio is CEO & Managing Director of REDI.es, a local operator specialized in high-capacity fiber-optic networks. He brings 25+ years in IT, 20 of them leading teams, plus training in executive coaching.

Inese Zute
Inese Zute Guest speaker

Inese is a Conscious Mind & Body Coach and Co-Founder of Back to Balance Academy, helping women reconnect with their bodies and restore inner balance.

Sponsors

Sponsoring VLC Young Entrepreneurs puts your business in front of an engaged community of families across greater Valencia and directly supports the next generation of local founders. Sponsors are recognized throughout the program and celebrated at Demo Day in June.

Your logo here
Your logo here
Your logo here

Awards & Recognition

The year closes on June 5 with a final event that celebrates the cohort and recognizes the teams who stood out.
Awards are presented across five categories:

Most Original Business Idea

The most original and persuasive
concept of
the program.

Greatest Social Impact

The project that does
the most
good for its community.

Most Compelling Presentation

The team that pitched with the
most clarity and confidence.

Most Realistic & Viable Project

The business plan most ready to stand on its own in
the real world.

Most Collaborative Teamwork

The team that collaborated best
across the school year.

Main prize

Cash prizes for the winning teams.

Awarded at the final event on June 5.

Every participant

A certificate of completion.

Awarded upon program completion and successful Demo Day pitch.

Apply to VLC Young Entrepreneurs

Applications are open for the 2026–27 cohort. This first cohort is intentionally small (roughly 16–24 students forming 4–6 teams), so spots are limited. Fill this out together with a parent or guardian and we will be in touch.

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Become a mentor

Coach one team through the six steps across the school year.
Tell us a little about yourself and we will follow up.

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Apply to speak

Give a 30-minute talk on a select Saturday and share the
real story behind your company.

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